With live music performances cancelled, pianist Yulia Chaplina aims to cheer us up – via the internet

With coronavirus lock downs in force, in continental Europe singers and musicians have been taking to their balconies and roof tops to perform solos – in an effort to cheer everyone up and keep themselves busy now their concerts have been cancelled.  Yulia Chaplina can’t take her piano onto a rooftop, but she has a scheme to help many of us here in the United Kingdom – via the internet.

Pianist Yulia Chaplina came to Marlborough in October to play in the opening recital of the new Brilliant Young International Musicians series – now sadly curtailed.  She’s decided to offer some help to keep us all, and herself, from getting bored – or worse – with this new way of life. 

For her St Peter’s Church recital she performed a solo programme of Russian music which was very well received by the audience and very well reviewed for marlborough.news.

Russian born and now based in London – where she was a Fellow of the Royal College of Music from 2012-2013 – Yulia too has had a large number of concerts cancelled.  She told marlborough.news:  “I think it is a very hard time for everyone at the moment. So I decided to start a regular newsletter with some nice and short music videos to help us stay positive in this difficult time. We all know that music is very therapeutic and provides a great boost for our mental health.  So I hope my music will cheer you up!” 

“I plan to record to a short online videos with some verylight and positive (jazz and classical) music and hopefully the pieces can make you feel better. I had a large number of concerts cancelled and it feels very strange not to have a regular schedule of upcoming events so this activity is great for my wellbeing too!”

She adds: “In case you might want to listen to me playing hardcore piano repertoire, you can find a lot of professional audio and video recordings on my website.”

Her idea is to send emails with each new piece of music to those people who join using the special page on her website.

Here are two examples of what you might get in your friendly ‘Musicbox’ email (recorded just the other day):   Gershwin’s The man I love or The March from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite with a personal sign off from Yulia.

Yulia explains that although it’s a YouTube link, it is a private listing and you won’t find them on the open internet: “These recordings of course cannot compete with the Berliner Philharmonie ‘Digital Concert Hall’ which they have set up once their concerts were cancelled. I don’t have the fancy – and expensive – equipment at home (which I might get, if this initiative is really of interest to people), however I have a beautiful piano at home and I really hope that you enjoy listening to my music.”

“Stay safe and let the music brighten up your days!  Best wishes, Yulia.”